Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1887-12-21
COL. LUDLOW AND GEN. BOYNTON.
The Engineer Conan,i.siOner Reviews
the Charges Made Against Him.

he ATTRIBUTES GEN. BoYNToNs ATTACKS TO DE-
SIRE TO DIscREDIr THE ADNINIsrRArroS-HR
PRODUCES LETTER TO SHOW THAT THE FIGHT
MADE ON HIN Is PoLITICAL-Hs REPLY TO THE
CHARGES.
Col Ludlow, the Engineer Commissioner OF the
District has In an interview in the Post reviewed
the charges made against him from time to time
during the past year by Gen. II. v. Boynton, the
washington correspondent OF the Cincinnati
Commercial Gazette. Col. Ludlow expresses the
opinion that he is one OF the shining marks Of
political attack for the purpose Of discreditng the
present Administration, although, he adds, this
war upon him may also be connected with dis
position which has cropped out in certain quar-
ters to disrupt and destroy the present form Of
government in the District. He has been as
sured, he says, that Gen. Boyntons personal
opinions differ from his published ones.
THE MASSACHUSETTS AVENUE EXTENSION.
Referring to the first attack upon him made in
connection With the proposed extension OF Massa-
chusetts avenue, a project which 1t was charged
he was concerned In the interest OF land specula-
tion, Col Ludlow, after referring to the publicity
the commissioners themselves gave to all their
proceedings in this NATTER said:
'The aosurdity OF the accusations was obvious,
and the agitation or the subject subsided. SO far
from any attempt on the part OF the Commission
ers TO extend a highway for the benefit OF specu-
lators, 1t was simply shown that the Commission
ers proposed to extend the avenue as far as Rock
$4,000, and that for the entire route TO the Ten
nallyto road the Commissioners had simply ac-
cepted valuable right OF way rendered TO them
by the owners OF the property through which IL
passed, and with the understanding that the own
erS would themselves proceed to the opening OF
tne highway SO granted. This matter OF the eX-
tension OF Massachusetts avenue, which is one OF
the most important in the city, has occupied the
attention OF the District authorities TOR ten or
fifteen years and the action of the Commissioners
was simply that or taking advantage or the vol.
untary offer on the part of the owners TO secure
iala dafAr latA
would involve the expenditure of a large sum OF
money to procure"
As to the next charge that the proposal to open
certain street in LeDroit park was TO aid the
operations or q land syndicate, Col. Ludlow says
Gen. Boynton, who had been misnrormed. refused
10 avail himself or an ofTer 10 have all the facts
and records concerning the placed at his dis
posal. Col. Ludlow says the charges made In this
connection were as groundiesS ana ridiculous as
the letter signed by all but one OF the members OF
the LeDrolt Park committee, refutiny the pub
lisned statements concerning an interview they
had with Col. Ludlow.
THE RECENT ATTACK.
The latest charges that Col. Ludlow inserted sur
reptitiously in the Commissioners annual report
paragraph containing a recommendation that
would involve the District in large expenditure,
basis OF fact as the Others"
..rhere was" he says, "no surrepttious inser-
tlon OF any paragraph in the annual report, the
fact that two OF the Commissioners did not see 1t
before forwarding being simply due to the fnad-
vertence OF clerk, who failed to place the sheet
upon which the Paragraph in question was printed
with the others. The matter ITSELF with reference
TO the Jurisdiction OF the pupllc spaces is entirely
simple, and has been previously under consdera-
tion OF the board. The intimatiOn that IL Involved
any considerable expense TO the District Is absurd
for tine reason that t In no wise related TO the gen.
era care expense OF maintenance OF the reserva-
lions, squares or public spaces but simply to a
matter OF minor administT ton relative 10 street
intersections TO be traverSed by sidewalks, and
under which water and sewer pipes should be laid.
Any additional expense 10 the District would be
nothing beyond the cost OF the actual conStruc-
tions referredto. The point OF patronage is non-
sense, since whatever was needed would be done
by the regular employees OF the District govern
ment. The assertion that any OF the COmmis-
SiOners made use 20 me or any such expression as
is imputed 10 them Is iaise and slanderous."
Col ludlow denies also that he had shown any
disregard OF the order OF the court in the Harlan
case, ana says that Judge COX stated to him per-
SOnally that the reflections upon him I'm the order
or the court were an inady ertence, and that he
would have the Official record corrected. "When
the order reached me, . said the colonel, (which
was the first cOgnZance had OF the case, my in
dorSement thereon was as follows: 'The surveyor
viii comply with all orders or court, but before
cording subdivision will submit the same to the
Commissioners for their Inspection This was
merely TO see that other requirements OF law, such
as interference with alleys, &C., had been CON-
piled with"
COL Ludlow describes as absurd also the state
mentS that heavy liabilities had been incurred by
the District government In consequence OF the
opening by the Commissioners OF certain streets
and avenues. "Tne action OF the Commissioners" !"
owners, who offered and dedicated the land, in
volying no expense whatever TO the District, and
the construction OF the streets, should IL be
compiished at the public expense, can only be at
some time In the Iuture and by appropriations
made by Congress in advance"
GEN. BoyNToN's PRIVATE OPINION.
The private assurances Col. Ludlow said he had
received, that Gen. Boynton's private opinion in
these matters differed from his published ex-
pressions were contained In a letter from Hon.
Isaac ID. Snead OF Toledo. The letter, which was
addressed 10 Col. Ludlow by Mr.. Smead on the
oath OF september last said: 81 have noticed some
articles written by Gen. BOynton, since my visit TO
Washington, some six weeks ago. week ago last
Thursday night left Philadelphia for Washington,
and the next day called on Gen. Boynton, and,
together with Superintendent Powell, we visited
several OF the school buildings in the District Gen.
BOyntOn admitted to me, and this, TOO, In the
presence OF Powell. that the entire objects OF his
attacks upon you were to embarraSS the Admins
tration; that be- as a taxpayer, had no complaints
TO make; that he was entirely satisfied with his
taxes and the way In which they were assessed and
collected He agreed with me fully that the best
governed city in America Is Washington, d. C.. He
spoke very highly OF you as an engineer, and also
well OF the other Commissioners. He did not
hesitate TO say that The entire object or his attack